A few years ago, prior to the 2000 elections, I was talking with a co-worker who had recently moved to the US from Fiji. He was curious about American politics and the upcoming election and I was explaining to him a little bit about the candidates and our political parties. I mentioned that Al Gore was the Decmocratic presidential candidate and George Bush was the Republican candidate. He looked at me and said "Now the Republicans...they're the Christians, right?" As both a lifelong Christian (although not an evangelical) and Democrat I was totally taken aback. I came to realize that my friend's observation was shared by a large number of people in this country and I can't really understand why. The top level Republican honchos (Bush, Cheney, Rummy, et al) do not seem to exemplify the teachings of Christ in their everyday lives as leaders (what may or may not be in their heart I can't say). The lies they have told would fill volumes (yes, I know Clinton lied) and this contrived war in Iraq far from over. Moreover, they don't seem to have any particular empathy for the poor and downtrodden, nor do they seem to really offer a whole lot to the evangelicals out there that vote for them. The abortion and gay rights issues are particular hot buttons for a lot of people and as a result a great many very well intentioned people end up getting hoodwinked into casting a vote for candidates that are probably not as caring about these issues as they are getting elected.

That said, I enjoyed the interview with Mr. Kuo and I think I will pick up his book. I am certain that if it does too well we will soon hear from Rush, Sean and Bill, that he is in fact an alcoholic, wife-beating, cross-dressing, child molestor.

I'm surprised this interview didn't touch on whether the voting habits of the Christian Right would be affected by the revelations of Mr. Kuo and others similarly enlightened. The Bushists made their political careers appealing to the basest hatreds and fears of "traditional" Americans and have been spectacularly successful. Even policies that screw the faithful are accepted as God's word. Ignore that the "traditional" American is now likely to be unmarried and doesn't attend church.

It's unlikely the Christian Right will give up on Bush and vote for Democrats, who are, or course, all pro-choice, in favor of gay marriage and hate America. If they have developed a distaste for Republicans, it will most likely result in their not voting at all.

Actually, that's just as well...

The evangelicals, at least those with influence, are cancerous dullards.

In response to David Kuo’s book and other opinions, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council stated, "Once you do something like this, you get your 15 minutes in the spotlight, but then after that nobody will touch you."

We all know better than that. I’m sure many Republican congressmen and Christian clerics will be more than happy to touch him with trembling hands.

to Jim and AJCalhoun. Yeah, this guy seems to have heart. Hopefully, his message will catch on with other small c christians. Not bad folk when they don't go all Hitlerian.

Without a shred of evidence, I always knew that W's fervent Chrisian persona was fraudulent. When Republicans basked in his apparent piety and even when liberals bemoaned his religiosity, I NEVER bought into W as a serious Christian. I guess I don't see him as a "serious" anything--he's just not a thoughtful, discerning, reflective person. The idea of him praying has always struck me as a facade--kind of like one of my brothers goofing around in church when we were little and then, when hit with a stern glance from my mother, transitioning immediately into what he thought "pious" should look like. As far as I'm concerned, Bush's frat-boy smirk and darting eyes gave him away a long time ago.

PS I'm surprised Alex didn't ask Kuo about John Dilulio, the first faith-based director, who left the White House in the summer of 2001 because he had never experienced an atmosphere so devoted to politics and so devoid of actual policy.

The relevant section in _The Prince_ is XVIII.

Machiavelli goes on at some length about the realities of statecraft and the impossibility of keeping your word or being a good or religious person. He then talks about the importance of appearing to have these virtues.

Appearing to be religious is the most critical. That's the one that the yahoos of his day fell for too.

I don't know if Dubya ever read Machiavelli, but Carl Rove sure did.

Kuo is just saying things, finally, that anybody with half a brain has always known.

After living in fear of and disdain for the religious right for years, believing everyone who talks about Jesus to be a hypocrite who would burn Jesus at the stake if he ever showed up again--I'm so pleased to see (on 60 Minutes) this guy who really IS christian (note the small "c") and has his money right smack where his mouth and heart and soul, are. Bravo, David Kuo.

As a registered Republican and a nominal trinitarian Christian (many have questioned this, but that's their problem), I find it remarkable that anyone is surprised that evangelicals have found it true that lying down with dogs, one will often get up with fleas. I also find it very telling that Christians were, as Kuo states, so enamored of power as to be "seduced" by the Bush administration. The fact is these people who have been pouring on the Cross wrapped in the Flag for the past few years are not representative of Christianity any more than George W. Bush is representative of Republicanism. Both have been guilty of the most hideous failures of character and principle and both must now pay, in various ways, for their perversities.

"Seduced" is too kind a word. When a guy sees a hooker on a street corner and decides he's going to buy what she's selling because he wants it that badly, he hasn't been seduced. He's been out whoring. So have evangelicals who, by definition can't leave anyone alone, can't not mind the business of everyone with whom they come into contact, and so were properly attracted to Bush and his utter disregard for all those things sane people hold most sacred. Now they are all in a boat together, and a big mother storm is whipping up. Can't call on Jesus to get out of this one, boys and girls. You built it, you climb it. You demand we worship a President, even a sane and intelligent one, let alone the lunatic we have now, and you've sold your soul for a quickie that will cost you for the rest of your natural lives.

Wish I could help, but I'm too busy enjoying the real "end times." Hey gang, it's The Rupture!